Absorbent drip pad for toilet tanks



Oct. 19, 1948 R. C. BUFFHAM ABSORBENT DRIP PAD FOR TOILET TANKS Filed Dec.

ATTORNEYS M A H C... w N w WC T Du E B O Patented Oct. 19 1948 iliNl-T ED TATES PATENT; vICE.

- IABSO'RBENT DRIP PAD FOR ToiLE'r-TANKs RobertCcBufiham,Racine, Wis. I 7' Application "December "6, 194.14, .seria1' o; teases 1 Claim.

1 My invention has for its primary object to provide a simple, durable and effective moisture absorbing flexible pad for flush-tanks and associated toilet bowls, for trapping condensation, resulting from variations in temperature, whereby Water dripping from the apparatus is checked against draining down upon thebathroom floor. Another object of my invention is to provide a single multiple walled, absorbent pad, which may readily be attached to the bottom or sides of a flush-tank, by any means, such for example, as water-proof adhesive strips, the same being either deposited in fluid form directly upon the pad material, or secured to the same by clips or analogous fastening devices. or may be held-in position by use of brackets fastened to the wall, floor or fixtures themselves.

Another object of my invention is to provide an absorbent pad in the form of a rope having a flexible metal orplastic core, the same to be wound about the base of a toilet bowl, whereby drainage from the exterior walls of the bowl is absorbed and allowed to evaporate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple absorbent pad in such form that it may readily be attached to the toilet equipment by the housewife whereby the expense of installation is avoided, it being understood that the flush-tank pad is provided with slots extending from one edge for the reception of both the tank feed pipe and discharge pipe.

With the above and other minor objects in view, the invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a bathroom toilet equipment embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2, a fragmentary front elevation of a flush-tank and absorbent pad attached to the sides and bottom thereof, with parts in section as indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3, a plan view Of a rectangular absorbent pad embodying the features of my invention, with parts broken away and in section as its front face, slightly curved or shaped to meet the curved outline of a flush-tank.

Referring by characters to the drawings, I indicates a flush-tank having a water supply pipe 2, and a centrally disposed discharge pipe .3 in communication with a toilet bowl 4.

The bottom of the flush-tank has secured thereto a double thickness absorbent pad '5. The sides of the flush-tank have secured to them an absorbent pad 12.

As best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the absorbent pad 5 is folded to form upper and lower sheets 6, 6', the meeting edges 1 of the sheets being abutted to complete the folds. It is understood that any suitable flexible absorbent material may be used.

In this exemplification of my invention, I have shown the upper face of the pad fitted with longitudinal waterproof adhesive tapes 8, 8', and said tapes are secured to the pad surface by staples 9, which extend through the tapes and double thickness of the pad whereby said pad walls are fastened together. These adhesive strips may be secured by gumming the same to the pad in some instances, and I may, under certain conditions, also treat the upper face of the pad with a Water-proof adhesive solution, which will run from end to end of the pad.

In order to conveniently adjust the pad to the bottom of a tank, I provide a centrally disposed slat Ill, and an offset slot Ill, which extend from one edge of the pad to a point intermediate of its width for the reception of the flushpipe 3 and the water delivery pipe 2, it is understood that at the slotted edges of the pad, the gummed strips are interrupted into sections, which are each secured by the staples 9.

Another means of supporting pad 5 would be by joining pads I2 and 5 at their junction so that I2 could support the outer edges of -5. Also one face of the pad l2 may be treated with a water-proof adhesive.

Figure 5 of the drawings illustrates a pad wherein the central slot i9 is flanked by right and left slots it", which serve to accommodate the water delivery pipe which may be either at the right or left of the central slot.

As noted in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the pad projects beyond the walls of the flushtank whereby to thus insure trapping of the moisture which may drain down from the tank walls. It is also within the scope of my invention to utilize absorbent pad about the walls of the bottom of the tank to trap the moisture, as l2 used above.

spaced parallel longitudinally disposed watera proof adhesive strips secured to the upper face of the pad adjacent the edges of the same, the pad being provided with spaced slots interrupting one of the adhesive strips, the said strips being adapted to engage the bottom of a flush tank whereby minute air channels are formed between said pad and flush tank bottom.

ROBERT C. BUFFHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record" in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,187,676 Biewen Jan. 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 126,731 Austria Feb. 10, 1932 

